Chapter 7

Drix stood motionless, staring at the sky as the wind tugged at the edges of his cloak. His presence seemed to command the very shadows around him, making the air feel colder, heavier. The city was still in chaos—smoke billowing into the sky, fires consuming buildings, and the screams of survivors piercing the air. But for Drix, it all felt distant, as though he was watching from a place far removed from the chaos.

His eyes narrowed slightly, and he activated his skill, allowing his senses to reach out beyond the city. What he felt was troubling, yet not unexpected. More gates, multiple gates, would soon appear around the world. These wouldn't be on the same scale as the one he had just dealt with, but still, they would be dangerous. The monsters that emerged from these gates wouldn't be as large or powerful as the ones he'd just slain, but they would still pose a significant threat. While smaller in size, these creatures would have enough strength to kill hundreds of people if left unchecked.

The gates were dangerous, yes, but Drix had no desire to deal with the mess. He wasn't interested in cleaning up after them. The SS-ranked gate he had just closed was a rare event, but the smaller ones? They were a hassle, and he wasn't about to waste his time babysitting humanity. Let them fight their own battles. Let the humans protect their world.

But they shouldn't die needlessly, he thought.

His mind drifted back to his younger days, when he had first begun exploring his system. It had been a time of discovery—when he had first encountered the vast inventory he now possessed, filled with thousands of items, weapons, armors... But one particular item stood out. A crystal, about the size of a bus, sitting quietly at the back of his inventory.

He had studied it then, realizing that this crystal had the ability to awaken the latent powers of those who touched it. It wasn't guaranteed, but those who were fortunate might be granted abilities of unimaginable strength. The thought of awakening these people had crossed his mind—however, unlike the original idea of awakening them in a few months, he now realized that it would take at least a year for most humans to fully harness their abilities.

A full year for them to evolve, to gain strength, a delay Drix could hardly wait for. Still, he decided it was worth the risk. He couldn't just let the city fall to ruin and destruction without giving the people some form of chance.

But now, with the fate of the city at stake, he decided to act.

Drix knew that the chances of anyone being awakened by this crystal were small—only about 25% of the population at best. But it was still something. He could give them the chance to fight back, to stand against the monsters and protect their world.

His shadow spread out beneath him, swirling in eerie patterns. The people watching couldn't help but notice the change in the air as Drix prepared to do something that would shift the course of the city's survival. Slowly, a white crystal began to rise from the ground, glowing with an ethereal light. It was enormous, easily the size of a small building, and its presence commanded attention. The people stared, unsure of what to make of the strange figure who stood before it. The news stations and civilians alike were curious, wondering what would happen next.

Drix felt a brief sense of satisfaction. His plans were in motion. It wasn't much, but it would do for now. As he stepped closer to the crystal, the atmosphere around him seemed to grow heavier, as if the very shadows were waiting for his next command. He reached out, his hand brushing the surface of the crystal.

Immediately, a screen materialized before him, flickering to life with a message:

[ Title: Monarch Of Shadow]

[Ranked: ???]

Drix couldn't help but feel a strange sense of wonder. It had worked. This crystal, this artifact, had activated just as he hoped. He could sense that others, too, could see the screen—the people watching him would know what had happened. Their hopes, their fears, everything was about to change.

His eyes briefly flickered to the dragon suspended in the air, held by the shadow spikes that pierced its body. He felt the pull to retract the shadows, to let the beast fall, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Not just yet. The creature was an example. A symbol of the power that had come to this city. He wanted the world to see it. The dragon's massive body, suspended midair, would serve as a testament to how strong these creatures were, how much destruction they were capable of.

The idea of scientists and researchers trying to study the shadow spikes that had impaled the dragon made him chuckle darkly to himself. They would try, of course. They would analyze the spike's composition, try to replicate it, figure out how it worked. But the shadow spikes weren't just made of dark energy—they carried a deathly aura, a fear-inducing power that would paralyze anyone who tried to study them too closely. The moment they got too close, their bodies would stiffen, their breaths shallow, as the very presence of the spike would instill a terror so primal, so deep, they wouldn't be able to move. The shadows that had pierced the dragon's body were not just weapons. They were an embodiment of Drix's will—an unstoppable force of darkness.

He laughed softly at the thought, an eerie sound that seemed to mix with the shifting winds. The humans would be powerless against it. They would never be able to replicate the shadows, never be able to harness the fear they carried. It would remain a mystery, one that would haunt their thoughts and their dreams for as long as they lived. They would never understand what had happened here.

With a sigh, Drix turned his attention back to the dragon. The shadow spikes continued to hold the beast, It would remain suspended for as long as Drix wished it.

He made no move to release the dragon, instead choosing to let it hang there as a grim reminder to all who might look upon it. The people of the city would remember this day. They would remember the monsters, the devastation... and the power of the man who had brought them to their knees.

Drix turned, his shadow shifting around him as he began to walk away. His cape fluttered behind him, his presence as imposing as ever, the dark energy radiating from him palpable. The crystal he had summoned for humanity's potential would remain where it was, but now, it was time for him to leave the humans to their fate.

As he vanished into the shadows, the world would not forget what had happened that day—not the dragons, nor the man who had killed them. The city, the world, would change. But Drix? He would be resting, detached, and amused by the chaos that would unfold.